Thermostatically controlled electric heater



Allg. l0, W. M. SAGE v THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER Filed Sept. 26, 1944 l INVENOR.

Patented Aug. l0, 1948 THERMOSTATICALLY CON TROLLED ELECTRIC HEATER Warren M. Sage, Fort Worth, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Joseph A. Sanders and Nelle Sanders, jointly, both of Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 26, 1944, Serial No. 555,795

s claims. l

This invention relates to a thermostatically controlled electric heater and more particularly to a self-contained immersion resistance type of electric heater which is adapted to be immersed in the body of liquid to be kept at a temperature corresponding to the setting of the thermostat and which is sealed against the entrance of the liquid into the chamber containing the thermostatic element and the electrical connections between the power line and the heating element.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an immersion type of electric heater which can be easily and quickly adjusted to heat the fluid in which it is immersed and maintain the temperature of such fluid within very close limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a heater of high heating capacity and capable of handling the amount of current necessary to provide such heat.

Another aim is to provide such an immersion heater in which the thermostat and its electrical connections with the power line and the resist- Iance heating element are adequately protected against moisture or leakage.

Another object is to so arrange the thermostatic element and its enclosing housing or shell that the thermostatic element is principally responsive to changes in temperature of the fluid in which the heater is immersed and not to the temperature'of the heating element itself.

Another aim is to provide such a heater which can be manufactured and sold at low cost and which is free from danger to the user either from shock or fire hazard.

Another purpose is to provide such an immersion heater which is reliable in operation and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a thermostatically controlled resistance type of electric immersion heater embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view therethrough, taken generally on line 2 2, Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentanry vertical sectional view therethrough taken on line 3 3, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

The heater embodying the present invention is shown as including a tubular shell which is adapted to be screwed into the wall of a tank or reservoir containing the uid to be maintained at the desired temperature and housing the thermostat elements so that these elements are responsive to the temperature of the uid in the tank. The connection between the power line and this shell and also the manual control for the setting of the thermostat are arranged outside of the tank and the shell is provided with an end head of electrical and thermal insulating material from which the electrical resistance element projects into the uid contained within the tank or reservoir.

The tubular shell, indicated generally at I0, is shown as comprising a cylindrical tube or sleeve II which, before assembly, is open at its ends. The inner end of this tube or sleeve is closed by a circular end head I2 which is inserted into the tube or sleeve and can be secured and sealed therein in any suitable manner. This circular end head I2 is provided with a pair of openings I3 through which the opposite ends of an electrical resistance heating element I4 extend, these ends being secured and sealed in these holes in any suitable manner. Within the shell or tube II each end of the resistance heating element I4 is provided with a binding post I5 carrying the usual nut I6.

To the exterior of the opposite end of the tube or sleeve II is secured a collar I8 this collar being externally threaded, as indicated at I9, so that the heater can be screwed into a fitting (not shown) in the side of the tank containing the fluid to be maintained at the desired temperature with the larger part of the tubular shell I0 and the heating element I4 immersed in this fluid. The outer end of the collar I8 is formed to provide an enlarged hexagonal or out-of-round headv 20 for this purpose, the outer face 2I of this head 2U being preferably substantially coincident with the outer end of the tube II.

To this outer face 2| is secured, by screws 22, or in any other suitable manner, a circular end head 24, this end head preferably having an axially extending annular flange 25 which ts into the adjacent end of the tube II :and also having a cylindrical periphery 26 over which a cup shaped cap 28 can be iitted. At one side the head 24 is shown as carrying a pair of binding posts 30, 3|, which .can be of any suitable character and are shown as comprising a central metal stem 32 tov the outer and inner threaded ends of which nuts 33 and 34 are applied and surrounded by a sleeve 35 of insulating material which is encased in a metal sleeve 36 which can be press made of relatively thin-walled metal and 3 fitted in a corresponding opening 38 in the head 24. The two sides (not shown) of the main power line are adapted to be connected to the outer ends of these binding posts 30 and 3|.

Extending diametrically across the inner face of the head 24 is an angle bar or bracket 40 one flange of which can be secured to the head 24 in any suitable manner as by screws 4 i. To the outwardly projecting ange of the angle bar 49 is secured, as by a pair of screws 42, a central panel or partition 43 of dielectric material, this p anel extending axially through the chamber formed by the tube l I and its end heads and terminating short of the opposite end thereof. The opposite longitudinal edges of this partition or panel 4 3 are also preferably separated from the inner face of the tube I I. On this dielectric panel or partition is mounted a thermostatic switch whicliis preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 45 represents a stationary contact which is preferably of .L -shaped form having one leg arranged against the forward face 46 of the panel 43 and having a threaded stem 4i projectlng through this panel from the opposite face 43 thereof. This stationary Contact is held in place by a but .49 .Qn the stem 41 which also secures one end of a Wire l) .ir-.1 electrical contact therewith, the other end of 'this wire being secured to the blinding host .or stud I5 at one end .of the resistance heating .element I4. Also projecting from the forward fabs 4.8 of the panel is a nin 52 having a threaded stem 53 projecting through this panel and. carrying a nut 54. This nut 54 secures the pin 52 to the panel and also .connects it with one end Of a Wire 55., .the other .end of this being senredto .the binding post 3U A movable contact 5 6 is pivotally mounted on the. nin 52, this. movable .Contact being .in the form of a double ended arm, one arm carrying the c011- lestgr .5,8 which engages. the butwardly projecting les bf the ,Statinnarv Contact .4.5 and the other end of whih is bifurcated, .aS indicated at 59. A Serine 53. .between the movable Contact 5.6 and its lplpriibg Pin f5.2 veldinglv urges the movable contact 5 5 into engagement with the fixed content 4d and .farms naar@ bf the electrical circuit between the Sunnbrtine nin .52 and .the movable yContact 55.

The. circuit is cemented by a wir@ S! cnnnectine tbe .external binding nlnet ,3l with a binding 1.105.?. 6.2.. Severed ai libe @nel Oftb@ panel 43., this binding nos@ beine .in turn .cemented by a, wir@ 51S. with in@ Stug si' binding best I at the einer and o i the resistance elementrM.

A bimetal'lic element 65 in the form of `a strip bas @ne and. fast t@ n .Shaft Wbih is rotatably mounted on the panel 43 to project outwardly from the face 4Q thereof. This bimetallic strip 6.5.1.5 @Oiled infn a .Spiral and bas .its free end in the form of a straight strip 6,3 which is arranged between the bifurcations of the movable contact anni@ An afm 1S fasi t@ the. Shaft Si and this arm is connected by a link 'Iii to the end of an axially movable rod vor p in 'II. rIhis pin is slidably mounted. in a c ollar I2 extending through the-end head 2g. and this pin is urged inw-army by.

avv surroundin helical compression spring I3 in,- ternosed between the inner end of this .collar and antan li bnthe inner .endbf tbepin The opposite end` ofr the pin II'is threaded and projects outwardly imm the Cellar l2 and. is screwed into, an internally threaded sleeve l5 which is secured within va knob IS of insulating material. This knob projects through a hole 18.

nrovdsdin the een .28. and is mended with an indexing mark traversing a series of graduations provided on the cap 28, these graduations preferably being in the degrees of temperature which correspond to the setting of the thermostat in the corresponding position of the knob 16.

In order to provide a snap action in the thermostatic switch, a pair of lg-shaped permanent magnets 8l and 82 are preferably mounted on the forward face of the partition 43 with their poles opposing one another and flanking the straight .end part 68 of the bimetallic element 6'5. This birnetallifc element is in part made of a material of magnetic material and hence when the thermostatic element moves toward one or the other pairs of poles of either permanent magnet it tends to form a magnetic shunt and to be drawn toward that magnet. The movement of the end E@ of the bimetallic element B5 toward the permarient magnet BI, this being in the direction for opening the switch, is limited by an adjustable StQD SCYEW In use, the heating unit as above described is screwed, by the threads lli of the collar I8, into a fitting (not shown) in the side 0f the tank or reservoir containing the uid.. .to be heated. The greater bart 0f the tube Il. musing the thermo.- static switch, and the resistance heating element I4 is immersed in the fluid while the head 24 :of the unit is arranged outside ofthe tank or raser voir.

With the switch `contacts 45 and 5 6 closed, current flows from one side (not shown) of the power line through the binding p ost 3i, wire 6I, bind-Y ing post 52. wire 6 3, resistance heating element I4, `wire 5B, hired contact 45, movable contact 56, post 52, wire 5'5 and through the binding post 3 0 to Ithe other side A(not shown) of the main power line.

When the fluid has been heated to the setting y. of the thermostatic switch, the end 6 8 of the bi.-v

metallic element @5 is stressed upwardly, as Viewed. in Fis- 2.. under the influence of the heat and when this stress exceeds the attractive force ofthe permanent magnet 8 2 this end` snaps ,upf

wardly thereby snapping the movable Icontact 5E out or engagement with the xed contact 45 and breaking the. circuit. For this purpose one of the metals used in the bimetallic element is magnetic. When the temperature of the uid drops the end 68 of. theelement G5 moves downwardly as viewed in Fig. 2 and as it approaches the poles of the permanent. magnet 32. the attractive force cf this permanent, magnet rapidly increases and snaps the end 6.8 toward it thereby snapping the.

movable Contact 55 into engagement with the fixed contact. 45 and reestablishing. the circuit. The balancing effect of the permanent. magnet 8l, which is arranged in opposition to the permaf nent magnetv 82, is adjusted by the screw 85.

Thus this screw limits the extent to which the that this element is woundA up or released so, as to.A alterthe temperature at which it will make andamants break tne contact between the xed contact 45 and the movable contact 56.

From -the foregoing it -will be seenthatthe present invention provides a high lwattage resistance heater unit in which the thermostatic con- 'trol element is incorporated in the unit and quickly responsive to changes in temperature of the fluid being heated and-is at the same time adequately protected. against moisture and is readily accessible. The unit is moreover simple and inexpensive in construction and is free from operating or service difficulties.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thermostatically controlled electric immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, means at the outer end of said shell for securing it in an opening through the wall of a tank containing 4the fluid to be heated with the greater part of its length immersed in the uid, an end head closing the inner end of said shell, a resistance heating element carried by said end head and projecting therefrom into said iluid, a second end head enclosing the outer end of said shell, a thermostatic switch in said shell and wholly enclosed within circuit with said resistance heating element, and means extending through said second end head for connecting said circuit with a power line.

2. A thermostatically controlled electric immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, an externally threaded collar directly embracing and secured to the exterior of one end of said shell and adapted to secure said shell in a threaded opening through the -Wall of a tank containing the fluid to be heated, an end head closing the end of said shell opposite said collar, a resistance heating element carried by said end head and projecting therefrom into said fluid, a second end head, means removably securing said second head directly to said collar and closing the end of said shell adjacent said collar, a thermostatic switch in said shell and carried by said second end head and wholly enclosed within circuit with said resistance heating element, and means extending through said second end head for connecting said circuit ywith a power line.

3. A thermostatically controlled electric immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, means at one end of said shell for securing it in an opening through the wall of a tank containing the iiuid to be heated with the greater part of its length immersed in the uid, an end head closing the other end of said shell, a resistance heating element carried by said end head and projecting therefrom into said fluid, a second end head enclosing said one end of said shell, a panel rigidly secured at one edge to said second end head and projecting axially into said shell, a thermostatic switch mounted on said panel and in circuit with said resistance heating element, and means extending through said second end head for connecting saidcircuit with a power line.

4. A thermostatically controlled electric immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, means at one end of said shell for securing it in an opening through the wall of a tank containing the fluid to be heated, with the greater part of its length immersed in the uid, an end head enclosing the opposite end of said shell, a resistance heating element carried by said end head, a second end head enclosing said one end of said shell, an adjustable thermostatic switch in said shell and in circuit with said resistance heating element, means extending through said second end head for connecting said circuit with a power -opposite end of said screw and arranged within said shell, a helical compression spring around said screw and interposed between its head and said second end head of said shell, and means within said shell and actuating said thermostatic switch through motion derived from the longitudinal movement of said screw.

5. A thermostatically controlled immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, means at one end of said shell for securing it in an opening through the wall of a tank containing the uid to be heated with the greater part of its length immersed in said uid, an end head enclosing the other end of said shell, a resistance heating element carried by said end head and projecting therefrom into said iiuid, a second end head enclosing said one end of said shell, a panel of dielectric material rigidly secured at one edge to said second end head and projecting axially into said shell, an vadjustable thermostatic switch mounted on one side of said panel and including a stationary contact, a movable contact, a shaft journaled on said panel and -a spiral bimetallic element having its inner convolution secured to said shaft and having its free end arranged to actuate said movable contact, means connecting said fixed and movable contacts in circuit with said resistance heating element and in circuit with a power line, and means extending through said second end head and arranged on said one side of said panel for adjusting said thermostatic switch, comprising an arm on said shaft, an internally threaded knob arranged on the exterior of said second end head, a screw extending through said second end head and having a threaded end adjustably screwed into said knob to permit relative movement between said knob and screw in a direction longitudinally of said screw, a head on the opposite end of said screw and arranged within said shell, a helical compression spring around said screw and interposed between its head and said second end head of said shell, and a link connecting said screw and arm and moving said arm through motion derived from the longitudinal movement of said screw.

6. A thermostatically controlled immersion heater, comprising a tubular shell, means at one end of said shell for securing it in an opening through the wall of a tank containing the fluid to be heated with the greater part of its length immersed in said fluid, an end head enclosing the other end of said shell, a resistance heating element carried by said end head, a second end head enclosing said one end of said shell, a panel of dielectric material secured -at one edge to said second end head and projecting axially into said shell, a thermostatic switch mounted on one side of said panel and including a stationary contact,`

a movable contact, a spiral bimetallic element having its inner convolution secured to said panel and having its free end arranged to actuate said movable contact, one of the metals of said bimetallic element being magnetic, and a pair of permanent magnets having opposed poles arranged adjacent and on opposite sides of the free end of said bimetallic element and in the plane of movement thereof, and means connecting said m mvabe "contacts incirnuit: with said esistance heating V010110001; md in circuit with a. 'power line.

WARREN M, SAGE. s

l f this patint:

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